For most people, summer vacation means long days at the beach and lounging by the pool. They book cottage rentals in PEI as much as a year in advance to ensure they get prime access to the water when vacation time rolls around and the nice weather sets in. Though summer swimming can be the brightest spots of our vacations, there's also a darker side to swimming. It's possible to drown in only a few inches of water, so make sure you follow these tips to keep you and your family safe in the water.

Use Lifeguarded Beaches

Most state, provincial, national, and municipal owned beaches hire lifeguards during the summer months for the safety and protection of swimmers. Though the Toronto beaches that have lifeguards are usually the most popular and therefore most crowded, if you search for an uncrowded, unsupervised beach, you're risking your life. With no lifeguard, there will be no one to help you if you get into trouble. Unless you are a trained lifeguard yourself, never take kids to an unsupervised beach.

Supervise Children

Even if they're just puttering around in the sand outside your Sunshine Coast vacation rental, even if there's a lifeguard only a few feet away, you must always keep an eye on your kids, especially if they're very young. Don't expect their water wings or life vests to keep them safe. It's even a good idea for friends who are experienced swimmers to keep an eye on each other while in the water. The keener your eye, the easier it is to prevent accidents and send help in the event that something does go wrong.

Learn to Swim

This may seem like common sense, but many drownings are the result of non-swimmers playing around the water outside their cottages or Vallarta condo rentals and falling in accidentally. If you plan on spending any time around the water - or even if you don't - you should at least be proficient enough to swim back and grab the dock or side of the pool. It's never too early to teach a child to swim.

Wear Your PFD

When boating outside your waterfront homes in PEI, always wear a PFD or life jacket, whether you're on a huge yacht or in a tiny canoe. You may not think you need one if you're a proficient swimmer, but can you still swim if you've been knocked unconscious by an errant paddle? No. Child or adult, always wear a life preserver while on the water.